Book-rest for school-desks



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G. F. HAYNES. BOOK BEST FOR SCHOOL DBSKS, TABLES, 8:0. No. 573,089. Patented Dec, 15, 1896.

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C. P. HAYNES. BOOK BEST FOR $013001. DESKS, TABLES, 8m.

No. 573,089. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

WITNESSES- UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

CHARLES F. HAYNES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,089, dated December 1 5, 1896.

Application filed July 22,1396. Serial No. 600,157!

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. HAYNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, (Brighton,) in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Rests for School-Desks, Tables, and the Like, of which the following is a full clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective View of a schooldesk having my improved sliding book-rest applied to its top or cover, the book-support in g leaf being drawn out and folded over upon the edge of the desk-cover in a position for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the same. tion showing the book-rest slid in under the desk top or cover. Fig.4 is a vertical section on the line l 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sliding leaf detached from the desk top or cover. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on the line 6 G of Fig. 5. Y

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, compact, and convenient book-rest for school-desks, tables, and the like which can be readily drawn out and folded over into a position for use and when not required can be slid in under the top or cover of the desk or other article of furniture to which it is applied and entirely concealed from view.

To this end my invention consists in the combination, with a desk-top, table, or like article, of a fiat leaf sliding beneath the same on suitable guides, said leaf being composed of two pieces or members hinged together, the outer portion of said leaf when drawn out being adapted to turn or fold over on its hinges and rest at an angle against and in adjustable contact with the front edge of the desk-top or table to form a book-rest, as hereinafter fully set forth; and my invention also consists in certain novel combinations of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter set forth and specifically claimed.

In the said drawings, A represents the body of a school-desk, and B the top or cover of the same, hinged at a a to admit of its being raised in the usual manner.

0 is a leaf which is arranged to slide be- Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sec (N0 model.)

neat-h the cover 1:3,itsedges engaging a pair of cleats or guides bfb, secured to the under side of said cover parallel with the sides of the same.

'c c are rubber buffers or cushions which extend up from thedesk-body to prevent noise when the cover is shut down.

The leaf 0 is .composed of two separate pieces or members-e f, hinged together at d (Z in such manner that when the leaf is drawn out its outer member or portion 6 can be raised and turned or folded over, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, onto the front edge g of the desk top or cover 13, which thus supports it at the desired. angle, in which position it forms a convenient rest to support a book, said rest being provided at its bottom with the usual horizontal ledge h and also with a second ledge 2 upon which to rest the book, as shown in Fig. 1.

An elastic cord 7t is preferably employed to retain the book open without the assistance of the hands. I prefer to employ a hollow or tubular cord to allow of its ends being compressed within narrow slits 10, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, formed in the sides of the outer por tion '6 of the folding leaf, said slits being made tapering or wedge-shaped to bite the ends of the elastic cord and clamp the same So when pushed in toward the narrower inner ends of the slits. The tension of the elastic cord can thus be easily regulated by changin g the position of either end in its clamping slit. A spring-metal clasp 15 is secured to the portion e of the leaf under which the surplus end of the elastic cord is is confined, as shown in Fig. 5.

The space between the two ledges h 2' may be utilized for the reception of a paper block 20 on which to take notes, said block fitting between said ledges and being held thereby, as shown.

The inner member f of the leaf 0 is provided with a stop or projection 1n, adapted to 5 be brought into contact with a stop it, projecting down from the under side of the desk-top to limit the outward movement of the leaf and prevent it from being drawn out of the guides b b, and at the inner end of the desk- 10:) top, near the point where it is hinged, is a stop 25,which serves to limit the inward m ovement of the sliding leaf and prevent it from dropping down into the desk when the 'COYGY is raised.

The outer portion 6 of the leaf 0 is provided with one or more rubber cushions or guards p, which When said portion 6 is turned over into the position shown in Figs. '1 and '2 rest upon the edge 9 of the desk-top, thus protecting the same from being marred, and by their frictional contact therewith preventing the leaf from slipping, whereby it is securely held in position after the portion 6 has been adjusted at the desired angle, which is effected by pulling out the leaf more or less, as may be required. As an additional safeguard against slipping I prefer to provide the under surface of "the rear or inner portion f of the leaf with one or more rubber cushions q, which rest 'u'pon'the front upper edge 0" of the body of the desk when said leaf is drawn out, an d by the'i r fr iotionaleon 'tact therewith, due to the Weight of the said desk-cover, effectually prevent any sliding movement -of the leaf which 'ivo'uld tend to 'vary the angle of inclination 'of the book-rest.

Although I-ha've shown m i'nventionas applied to a school-deslgjit i'sob'v ious that it may be applied 't'o'other des'cr'ip'tionsof desks, or to tables or other articles of furniture to which it may be found to be adapted.

lVli'at Ielaiin as my invention, and desire to "secure by Letters Patent, is

l, The combination with a desk-top, table, or the like, of a sliding leaf mounted thereunder and eomprisi'ngtwo parts or members hinged together at their ad jace'n tedges; the outer member of the leaf having a flat upper face "to rest against, and in adjustable sliding contact with, the front edge of said desk or table top, when said member lSS\\"ll-llg :up into its operative position; whereby when the leaf isd r'aw'n out the outer member thereof may be 'adj-usted at any desired angle by simply moving the inner leaf member a slight distance in or out, 'substantiallyas set forth.

'2. The combination With "a desk-top, table, or the like, of a flat leaf sliding beneath the same on suitable guides, said leaf being composed of two parts or members hinged together, the outer ,portion of the leaf when drawn out being adapted to turn or fold over at an angle against and in adjustable con tact with the front edge of the desk-top or table to form a book support or rest, and said outer portion being provided on its upper side adjacent to its hinged edge with one or more i'ubber eushionsadapted to contact with the front edge of the desk-top or table and by their frictional contact therewith, hold the outer section in its adjusted position substantially as described.

I 3. The combination with a desk-top or table, of -a flat leaf sliding on guides beneath the same and composed of two parts or members hinged together, the outer portion of the leaf when drawn out being adapted to turn-or fold over against and in adjustable contact with the front edge of the desk-top'ortab'le to form a book-rest, and saidou ter port'i-on of the leaf being provided on its upper side adjacent-to its hinged edge with one 'or inorerubbe'r frietion-c-ushions for "contact v-i-th'the said front ed ge' of the desk-top, and the i n'n er portion-of the leaf being'provided on its underside with one or m ore rubber friction-cushions for contact with the front edge of the body of the desk tolprevent the sliding leaf fromslipping when adjusted in position, substantially-as described. v

itness my hand this 20th day of July, A. l). 1896. H

CHARLES F. HAYNES.

In presence o f-- I. E. 'lnsonmmonnn, J. L. TIKENDRY. 

